Just 1.25 square miles set alongside the Raritan Canal, this one-time factory town’s downtown is full of eclectic shops and fine and casual restaurants serving a myriad of cuisines. Outdoorsy types will enjoy a stroll or bike ride along the Delaware towpath, and adventurous folks can rent kayaks or canoes and hit the the river.
WHAT TO DO
Antique lovers revere this Hunterdon County town, which has a population of 4,200, because it brims with shops filled with fun finds. Favorite spots include Antique Center at the People’s Store, which is a multi-dealer site, and Bridge Street Antiques, with jewelry, lighting and more. On Wednesdays and weekends, the Golden Nugget Antique Flea Market is a go-to for vintage-loving fortune seekers. This year-round, 50-year old institution features approximately 200 vendors, who showcase wares such as antique milk glass dishes, lucite furniture, signage and retro fashion.
Cross Pollination Gallery’s SiriOm Singh and Ayala Shimelman. Photo: Courtesy of Cross Pollination Gallery/Gala Derroisne
Art lovers will find galleries like Cross Pollination, where artist couple SiriOm Singh, a painter, and Ayala Shimelman, a mixed media and jewelry maker, showcase their wares.
Or forgo shopping and loll away an afternoon on the river by kayak, standup board or canoe; reserve your watercraft from Big Bear Gear right in town.
WHERE TO EAT
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There are hosts of cafés and restaurants, many with sidewalk seating—great for people watching—and a few with canal views. The Full Moon is excellent for breakfast—an all-day affair. At Lambertville Station Restaurant, fine dining has river views, or head for its basement Wine Cellar, where unique wines, tapas and fine cheeses can be enjoyed on plush couches in front of the fireplace of this circa 1800s building. For cocktails, check out the off-the-beaten-path Boathouse Bar. This little gem brims with nautical charm, and friendly patrons.
WHERE TO STAY
Forty-three of the 46 rooms at Lambertville Station have sweeping river views, and, with a nod to traditional inns, a continental breakfast is included with your stay. Rates are from $359. Another option, set right in the midst of the downtown bustle, is the Lambertville House Inn; handsome with ornate millwork and second-floor porches, the hotel opened its doors in 1812. Each of the 26 rooms is uniquely appointed, and most also have fireplaces. Rates start around $265 per night.
Want to keep exploring? Check out more of our 12 favorite small towns to visit now.
Antique Center at the People’s Store, 28 N. Union Street; Bridge Street Antiques, 21 Bridge Street; Golden Nugget Antique Flea Market, 1850 River Road (Route 29); Cross Pollination Gallery, 3 N. Union Street; Big Bear Gear, 1874 River Road; Full Moon, 23 Bridge Street; Lambertville Station, 11 Bridge Street; Boathouse Bar, 8 1/2 Coryell Street; Lambertville House Inn, 32 Bridge Street
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